According to a new Australian Industry Group/ Deloitte CEO survey, skills shortages are again looming large as a major risk for business and pose real problems for companies in terms of production and service delivery. This situation is forecast to intensify and businesses are working hard to mitigate the risks.

The survey, Skills shortages: A high risk business, which involved more than 400 companies of all sizes, found that more than one-third (34.7%) of businesses believe there is a high to extreme risk of skills shortages negatively impacting on the operation of their businesses this year. This level of concern increases to almost half of all companies (47.5%) by 2015.

Ai Group Chief Executive, Heather Ridout, said: "While skills shortages have never totally gone away, they are set to intensify with a vengeance and are arguably the number one threat to our economic growth."

The skilled vacancies employers are struggling to fill include:

• Metal fitters and machinists;
• Professional engineers;
• Business administration managers and accountants; and
• Metal casting, forging and finishing trades persons.

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